Fifty Shades of Grey surprisingly funny romantic comedy

With all the media attention it’s been getting my curiosity got the better of me and last night I decided to go see the film version of Fifty Shades of Grey.

Possibly because I’ve read quite a bit of the books and was expecting much worse I found the film surprisingly funny and watchable. Played for laughs as a sort of quirky romantic comedy FSOG takes a tongue in cheek approach to its source material. Opening scenes of the female lead looking up the monstrously phallic “Grey Tower” office block and later shots of her pouty lips nibbling the tip end of a “Grey Industries” pen were laugh out loud funny examples of over the top sexual innuendo being played to almost camp effect.

Dakota Johnson’s Anastasia Steele has an unkempt, wide-eyed innocence that reminded me of Doris Day at her most amusing. With all the best lines in the film, Johnson’s portrayal brought a depth, credibility and dry humor to the role that were sadly missing in the book. The scene in Grey’s office where the two leads negotiate the all important “contract” was probably the high point of the movie for me – a scene I don’t remember and can’t find in the book.

That FSOG is such a watchable movie is a testament to the talent of the Director, Sam Taylor-Johnson, who reportedly had major battles with an author that wanted more of the books tedious, kinky sex scenes in the film. It’s a fight paid off. FSOG may not be worth the ticket price at the movies but it’s a pretty respectable option for those of us who like painting our nails in front of the telly on a Sunday night.